Dear Editor,

Our hearts are so filled with love and generosity shown during our annual Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive for The Manna House. 2023 marked our ninth collection and the largest collection to date — 4,830 jars!

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church and Food Lion were Top Jammers with $1,000 donations (totaling 450 jars each). Several area businesses and civic organizations stepped in with $100, $200 and $250 donations. Richard Hearn was a dedicated volunteer securing nearly $4,800 in sponsorships.

The top collectors were Ameris Bank (221), GeoVista Credit Union (113) and Thomas Hill Jewelers (109). Other businesses and families gleefully shared their resources from two jars to 200 jars.

Our local grocery stores were so generous to allow our volunteers to spend one day collecting at their locations. Volunteers from St. Philip’s, the Hinesville Rotary Club, and the Hinesville Military Affairs Committee were instrumental in receiving donation of 600-plus jars.

The 11 Black Men and their mentees showed their true community spirit by sorting, counting, and loading all of those jars! We could not do this without them.

What does this mean for Hinesville and Liberty County residents?

No children should go hungry while school is on summer break. Seniors will get extra protein. Homeless individuals will have easy meals that do not require refrigeration. Any local church with a food pantry can ask The Manna House to share this bounty.

In nine years, 22,639 jars have been donated to feed our neighbors! Next year, will be the 10th anniversary of the PB& J Dive. Our goal will be to collect 5,000 jars!

Michelle Ricketson, Hinesville Downtown Development Authority,  Pastor Katrina Deason, The Manna House